The change of caspase-3-positive rates of vascular wall cells from hypoxia rats with or without DAPT treating.

<p>(A–D) Caspase-3 immunohistochemistry staining in pulmonary artery strips (×400, cytoplasmic staining): (A) pulmonary artery in culturing lung tissue strip treated with additional equivalent M199; (B) pulmonary artery in culturing lung tissue strip treated with DMSO; (C) pulmonary artery in culturing lung tissue strip treated with DAPT (1 µmol/l); (D) pulmonary artery in culturing lung tissue strip treated with DAPT (10 µmol/l). (E) The change of caspase-3-positive rate of vascular wall cells from hypoxia rats with or without DAPT treating. The caspase-3-positive cell rates in vessel strips from hypoxia rats treated with DAPT (1 µmol/l) or (10 µmol/l) were significantly higher than those treated with M199 (blank control)or DMSO(p<0.05). However, the caspase-3-positive cell rates between the two DAPT treatment groups or between the blank and DMSO control groups were not significantly different. (*, P<0.05 compared to control group. Data are expressed as means ± s.e.m.) Arrow: positive staining.